5 Centimeters per Second : Anime Double Feature May 29, 2009

In this heart-wrenchingly beautiful tale, short-lived cherry blossoms echo the fleetingly frail nature of life, love and relationships. Named for the speed at which cherry blossom petals fall, 5 Centimeters per Second follows a young boy as he befriends, falls in love with, and slowly drifts away from his childhood friend. Despite their efforts to keep in touch , time and distance take their toll. Will fate bring them together again, or will their star-crossed paths drift farther apart?

Awarded Best Animated Feature Film at the 2007 Asia Pacific Screen Awards, Makoto Shinkai is one of the very rare film makers who understands that less can be more, and that quiet moments often tell us more than any amount of action or dialogue.

Since the release of his first short film, Voices of a Distant Star, anime fans and critics alike have been hailing Shinkai as the next Hayao Miyazaki. As part of this special double feature, the JICC will also present this beautifully animated short created almost entirely by Shinkai on his home computer.

Japanese with English Subtitles.

This event is free and open to the public. Seating is limited and granted on a first come, first served basis. Reservations required. Please send your name, affiliation, the number in your party, and the names of your guests, to: [email protected]

Official Website: http://www.us.emb-japan.go.jp/jicc/index.htm